On this Day in History: August 11, 1772 - The summit of Papandayan volcano in West Java suddenly implodes, unleashing a catastrophic debris avalanche which blankets an area of 250 square km. Tumbling boulders flatten 40 villages and their 2,957 inhabitants.

Born on this Day in History: August 11, 1921 - Alex Haley (1921 - 1992)
Originally a member of the Coast Guard, Alex Haley began writing to avoid boredom during long bouts at sea. His 1976 book Roots: The Saga of an American Family, which followed the lives of Haley's African ancestors, questioned the relationships between races and brought the author to the forefront of American consciousness.